Lighting fixture



April 1945- G. E. ECKERT ET AL 2,373,235

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 15, 1942 INVENTOR 'OkG-fiEECIERT' a I YEkeau. 1. M05 B ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 10, 1945 George E. =Ecker t and Verrall .IQM oe, FortAtkinson, Wis., assignors to Moe Brothers Manufactuning -Co., Wisconsin Fort Atkinson, 'Wis, a corporation of Application April 15, 1942, Serial No 439,070 11 Claims. (o1. 240-78) This invention relates to improvements in lighting fixtures.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a novel lighting efiect by means which is inexpensive but gives the appearance of being very costly and has additionalutility in providing a novel means of screening from direct observation fluorescent light tubes and other sources of illumination such as may require more I space than is available in a standard fixture of the shallow bowl type. I

Another objector the invention is to provide an ornamental screen and light difiusing filter adapted for use as a part of a lighting fixture and comprising a light diiiusing helix which is elastic as well as transparent and may-readily be applied for a convenient, inexpensive installap'referably arched between the hoops (so that they cast no shadow) andare welded or otherwise secured to each hoop.

In the'spaces between the hoops, the invention contemplates the use of elastic bands in the form of t oroidal helices of plastic material, preftion in the first instance, and may readily be removed and washed and restored to inexperienced persons. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon study of the following disposition by closure of the invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a View in perspective showing alight 'ing fixture embodying the invention.

Fi 21s a fragmentary detail view taken' in sectionon the line 2-2 .of Fig. l and very mu enlarged. v i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail in side elevation showingjthe elastic helical light diffusing band with a section thereof broken away to show its crosssection.

Fig. 4 is a view showing on a reduced scale partially inside elevation and partially in section a modified embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective on a reduced scale showing a further modified embodimentflof the invention, portions being .brolren away to show the interior construction.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views;

The canopy "6, stem 1, bowl 8 and the mounting 9 for the fluorescent tubes .I-Dmay all be ,con-

ventional. While fluorescent tubes are ilhis-' trated in connection with the shallow bowl .8 of the device shown in Figures 1, 2 -and ,3, it will, of course, beunderstoodthat any illumination source :may be employed. Theiinvention does,

however, have particular utility wherefluorescent lighting equipment is used because the invention provides a decorative screen :concealingthe fluorescent tubes from direct view.

In accordance with-the invention, an annular screen isdetachably positioned on the margin of the bowl'8. The screen is separately fabricated and freely removable from the bowl. A set'oi three hoops I5, l6 and I! are connected at suitable peripheral intervals by fittings l8 which are erably of a transparent or translucent nature. While the bands 20 are preferably clear, they may also-be colored,"whether they are transparent or"translucent. Any number of hoops, l5, l6, l1 may be used and the number of the plastic bands 24) will depend on the number of spaces available, each space being preferably fitted with one of the bands. At any given point, the diameter of the helix is such that it will only partially enter the space between the hoops, as shown in Figure 1.

' As indicated in the enlarged elevation in Fig- I ure 3, the plastic strip material from which the '"face 21 and convex on its outer face 22.

helix 20 is formed is preferably fiat on its inner The .plastic helices are similar to those used on telephone cords to keep them from kinking. The length-0f the helix is so chosen that when it is formed into a band its diameter wil1 be slightly less than that of the hoops which it is to encircle.

A small amount of acetone applied to the ends of the helix will serve as adhesive to connect such ends to form the toroidalband. The resulting band has considerable elasticity and may readily be sprung into place and readily removed for cleaning or repair, or 'for the substitution of bands of different character.

"Obviously, a variety of efifects are possible by the use of the invention. While the bowl 8, as illustrated, is frostedglass, it may, for wholly indirect lighting, be opaque, While the hoops I5, I 6 and .H are preferably made of metal, they may, for other effects, -bemadeeither translucent or transparent and may be either clear or colored. flhe light shining through the .slots between the lhoops ll5, l6, I1 and striking the toroidal helical bands will 'be' transmitted, reflected and refracted insuch fashion as to'cause the bands 20 Hto'sparkle somewhat like cut-glass.

In the construction shown in Figure 4, the fixture is a more or less familiar type in which the stemlll carries a bowl which, however, for the purposes of the invention is channeled at 241cc receive one of the toroidal bands v20. In order to create the desired contrast between the bowl and the band, the bowl, if initially transparent, may berenderedtranslucent or opalescent by a coating v25 applied to the surface of the bowl ,both above and below the channel, leaving the channel transparent for the full illumination of the ornamental toroidal band at 20. Other effects may be produced as desired.

In the construction shown in Figure 5, the fixture hangs from a chain 26 and includes a metal bowl 2'! provided at 28 with a series of ornamental arcuate slots into which the helically wound band sections 29 are fitted. The elasticity of the helically wound strip comprising each band section is such as to permit the ends of the strip to be distorted for entry into the bowl at the ends of the slots 28 as a means of securin the band sections in place. If desired, the band sections may be continued inside of the bowl to constitute one continuous band as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5. While it is more difiicult to thread the band into place when assembled in this manner, the result is very attractive.

In actual practice, a wide variety of other effectsmay be produced through the use of toroidal plastic bands which may be made to contrast either in degree of light transmission, or in color, or both with adjacent portions of the fixture assembly. The invention is not only useful in the manufacture of new fixtures but, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the sub-assembly comprising the hoops l5, l6 and I1 and their connecting brackets l8 and the orna-:

mental bands constitute a separate article of manufacture which may be applied either to new fixtures or old fixtures to achieve the ornamental effect contemplated by the invention. In practice, such sub-assemblies may include any number of hoops and bands. In any case, the ornamental band becomes virtually a part of the bowl or other enclosure with which it is used and, since the possibilities in the field of design are so varied, the word shield is used generically to des-.

ignate a screening portion of a light fixture, regardless of its nature or extent.

We claim: I

1. The combination with a light shield, of a toroidal member comprising a helical strip wound fiat about an open center and applied thereto, said member and the adjacent portions of the shield being in contrast and at least the member being light transmitting.

2. In a light fixture the combination with an,

opaque shield portion having an arcuately extending margin, of a toroidal member of light transmitting plastic extending along said margin, said toroidal member being elastic and under tension about said shield portion whereby it is maintained distended, said shield portion extending at least in part beneath said member in supporting relation thereto.

3. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a shield means including a portion provided with a light transmitting slot, of a toroidal band section comprising helically wound plastic strip applied along said slot to intercept and diffuse light issuing through said slot, said section being provided with means holding it in pressure engagement with the slotted portion of said shield means.

4. In a fixture, the combination with a bowl,

' of a hoop spaced therefrom, and a band fitted in hoops and resting upon the bowl, and a band encircling said hoops and lodged in the space therebetween, said ,band' comprising an elastic toroidal helix of light transmitting plastic strip material, the width of the band exceeding the space between the hoops whereby the band is supported on the margins of said hoops, the band being under tension against said margins.

6. As an article of manufacture, a pair of hoops, bracket means connecting the hoops in spaced relation, and a toroidal helix of light transmitting plastic strip material encircling the hoops and lodged in the annular space therebetween.

7. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a shallow bowl and a light source elevated thereabove, of a bowl extension comprising a series of hoops axially spaced, bracket means connecting the hoops in spaced relation and resting marginally upon the bowl for the support of the several hoops, and a plurality of bands encircling the respective hoops and disposed in the spaces therebetween, each band comprising a toroidal helix of plastic strip material, said bands and hoops being at an elevation to intercept light passing from said source above the level of said bowl, and said hoops and bands being .in contrast with respect to light transmitted.

8. A lighting fixture comprising the combination with a slotted shield portion, of a helically wound plastic strip of light transmitting material extending along the slot to intercept light issuing from the shield through the slot, the extent of the helical strip exposed along the slot corresponding to the extent of the slot and its width being at least as great as the slot.

9. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a light intercepting shield having spaced shoulders between which light is transmitted, of a light diffusing and retracting member comprising a helix constituting a light transmitting strip and extending along the space between said shoulders to intercept light transmitted therethrough, said helix comprising coils greater in diameter than the space between said shoulders and provided with connecting means whereby said helix is held to said shoulders, a portion of said helix entering the space between said shoulders to a limited degree.

10. A lighting fixture comprising the combination with a shield having shoulders spaced and providing a light transmitting slot therebetween, of a light diffusing and retracting member extending along the slot externally of the shield and in pressure engagement therewith, said member abutting said shoulders and comprising an open centered helix of light transmitting and elastically self-supporting plastic material.

11. A lighting fixture comprising the combination with a shield having spaced annular shoulders providing an annular light transmitting space therebetween, of means for diifusing and refracting light issuing through the space between said shoulders, said means comprising an elastic toroidal of helically wound form-sustaining light-transmitting strip material in the form of a band contractile upon said shield and engaged therewith under tension and confined between said shoulders for positioning the band upon the shield.

GEORGE E. ECKERT. VERRALL I. MOE. 

